Japan's age of consent was raised from 13, among the world's lowest, to 16 years old on Friday as lawmakers passed key reforms to sex crime legislation.
A new bill, which also clarifies rape prosecution requirements and criminalizes voyeurism, cleared parliament's Upper House in a unanimous vote.
The age of consent — below which sexual activity is considered statutory rape — is 16 in Britain, 15 in France, and 14 in Germany and China.